31 May 2010

Happy Memorial Day! Please remember to take a moment out of your day to remember the reason why today is a national holiday.

BF and I have been busy this long weekend and are planning to take it easy today with some Super Mario Galaxy 2 game and enjoying our new grill. Here's a medley of some of my outfits through this weekend. Yes, I dug into the comfort department and pretty much shorted it for most of the weekend.

And because my hair won't be looking like this again any time soon, here's a pic of it right back from the salon on Friday:

Some of you asked for it, here are some quick pics from the Renaissance Festival. Next weekend is the last weekend, so go if you haven't had a chance to yet! Yes, there is some cheesy goodness x10, but the BF and I still had a ton of fun and enjoyed the day.

Course one: Me knawing on a smoked turkey leg. The fair food is part of any festival fun!

29 May 2010

I'm back from a day of frolicking at the Renaissance Festival (BF and I actually went - and though we're exhausted, we both actually had a really good time!) FYI to you Atlanta-area folks - this weekend at the festival is two tickets for the price of one, and I totally think it's worth going. And I highly recommend planning to pay for your tickets with cash - zero line waiting.

More on the Festival laters, but I thought I'd drop in a quick post to cover my outfit for going to dinner with the BF tonight. This is also my late addition to Dress Week, being hosted by Melanie at Unravelled Threads. Thought I'd keep the accessorizing simple since there was already a whole lot going on with the print:

So one of my must-have summer staples had been to find a great brown-tan leather wedge sandal I could actually walk in. I started this search about a week or two ago, and for some reason I had it in my head that my perfect pair was the Cynthia Vincent for Target wedges in cognac - which I was always pretty sure my chances on scoring a pair were next to nill. My closest Targets don't have them (nor had I ever seen them) and Ebay auctions for the wedges are stilling ringing up to $100 or more (I don't love any clothing or accessory piece enough to pay over retail for it, sorry).

Thus, after much hemming and hawing over five million and one similar-looking brown-tan sandals that ranged in price from ghastly to "is this just a sandal-making kit?", I finally ended up purchasing a semi-inspired-by looking wedge (think second cousin once or twice removed):

Not the same and not as edgy as the Vincent wedges, but I think this will be a nice neutral addition to my summer wardrobe (yeah, 'cause I needed more shoes), and the low platform height will actually be comfy nice and wearable.

And to all you ladies who can prance about confidently in your 4" and above wedges or chunky heels, I salute you - and I invite you to take at look at these (so pretty and on sale - my first choice had I not thought I'd break my dang ankles in them), these (also on sale, hello!) and these, if you're searching for hot pairs of summery platform wedges.

My next "great" summer fashion search: The Romper (da-da-dummmm ...) IF I can find the perfect flattering one that doesn't make me think toddlerville or "Pretty Woman 2010" - and IF I can get over the whole completely undressing to use the ladies room thing.

26 May 2010

Wow, it is kind of too quiet at home and kind of boring when the BF is away. The house suddenly seems too big and I wake up in the middle of the night hearing random noises I am sure I would have normally ignored. Plus cooking for one kind of sucks - though I have to admit I've been eating way healthier these past two days (Morning Star veggie burgers, I am addicted to you).

And though I am typically the neat freak of the house, suddenly when there is no one to keep the house neat for, there are dishes piling up on the sink ... the bed doesn't get made ... the laundry sits in the dryer ... crumbs collect underfoot. And it's just been two days, I know!

So I'm making myself get out of the house for a bit today for more than work-related items - lunch with a friend and then maybe a visit to Target (and maybe a random pair of Cynthia Vincent wedges to be found in my size, pretty please?).

For my OOTD, I took inspiration from this Anthro outfit set. I'm feeling pretty good about my outfit today, though I may end up having to trade in the belt - it keeps wanting to go up while the skirt keeps wants to go down (not a good look).

25 May 2010

My BF is a lucky duck and he flew out yesterday to go to Prague on business (you don't even need to say it, I am already thinking it). Lucky for me, his trip is a short one and he'll be back in time for us to spend our extended weekend together.

He did leave it to me though, to plan some local outings for us when he gets back, so we don't just waste another weekend with mindlessness, so I am excited about that ... except that I don't know of any fun outings (I need to go to Anthro to return something - does that count?).

I ended up doing some light online searching and seems like there's a Jazz Festival going on (jazz is kind of meh for me) ... and ... and a Renaissance Festival? Is that for-reals? Like bestill my fluttering true medieval nerdy King Arthur DOES exist heart - or just gaggles of two-bit Robin Hood wannabes carting cotton candy in a plastic tub?

Can any of you gals in the ATL area recommend any cool day trips or events going on this weekend?

Here's my OOTD. Not sure how I am feeling about this look - it seems a little too sweet for me, but I do like the top (thanks, sis) and am wearing my almost-never-leaving-my-feet sandals. Is it because this outfit mildly reminds me of a schoolgirl uniform?

24 May 2010

Another mildly hot and kind of ridiculously humid day in the south. If you haven't guessed it yet, I am not a huge fan of the humidity, especially after living in the high desert for a few years. Aside from the seemingly perpetually shiny face, a desire to take a shower every two hours and to lay about doing nothing, my hair tends also to take on a frizzy consistency (yes, Asians get frizzy hair too - or it might just be me ...)

So being kind of a heat wimp, I dressed for comfort and coolness today - my new favorite blouse, which after putting on I realized I would have gladly paid full price for (make more tops like this, Anthro!), and my new favorite jingly belt/modern-day fanny pack (it's got a tiny, mostly useless, zip compartment up front).

Not sure what I'm going to do when it really starts heating up around here. Stay indoors and just stare at the world through my windows?

What do you gals grab to wear when the weather starts really heating up?

23 May 2010

Hope you gals are all having a lovely weekend! And for all those of you on vacay - lucky!!!! I just got back home yesterday (and it is super-freaking hot in the ATL today - what gives?!) so the BF and I are taking it easy today with some light lunch (got to try the Verde, people), mild strolling, errands and video gaming. I wish the froyo place near our house would hurry up and open already ...

I had a great time visiting the fam, but it is difficult to set up a psuedo-office and not have immediate access to stuff you need. I did miss my mom's home-cooking though (mm, mm, mm ...), big city shopping and hustle/bustle, and got to spend a few hours of quality time with my four year-old nephew.

The sis and I did manage to out last Thursday - we went to BONDST for some sushi and sake. It was kind of surreal for me because I think it was the first time and she and I spent time together like adults, with cocktails and everything, not just lunch or stuff with the fam, etc. I wanted us to do some more stuff but it was a "school night" so I resignedly let sis lead us back on our way home (she's a mom now after all).

To get my ball rolling again, I thought I'd post my Sunday OOTD - I was very tone-on-tone today in my blues:

Yes, I am still ridiculously pale, and I have been exfoliating in the shower and following up with

19 May 2010

The weather here in NYC the last few days has been "blah" to say the least. Not to mention I had a brief bout of head cold yesterday (or was it my first migraine? Well whatever it is where your sinuses feel like they're going to explode and your head hurts so bad you feel slightly nauseated and can only jab at your dinner and then go to bed before it was completely dark outside so you missed watching the new episode of The City - whatever that is, I had).

I feel a ton better today but unfortunately the weather is kind of iffy, so I thought I'd post a "fantasy" OOTD (what I'd be wearing if the weather would cooperate and if I wasn't carless and stuck working). This outfit is comprised from a bunch of recent purchases - those white shoes I'm still kind of scratching my head about and items purchased from the J. Crew Aficionada b-day discount:

Soooo pretty. And pretty affordable in Anthro-world. But I don't know, I kind of think it's a little too "sweet" (at least for me). And though it looks like a cute little crossbody purse, I think it is borderline messenger bag size (11" x 14"), which means you'd essentially be hauling around a massive bow. You gals likey?

So what goodies did you ladies manage to snag? Is the sale everything the hype made it out to being?

Also, if you're not completely Anthro'd out yet, here's a belated OOTD for you gals from last week - I had my eye on the Castle Lake Dress since it first appeared on the Anthro web site. But I resisted. I was even good when it finally went on sale about two weeks ago. Then I saw it on Spiffy (and then Audreybella, not the mention the reviews from a cadre of other bloggettes when the dress first came out) and got all googly-eyed about it again but by then the web was out of my size. Oh well.

Then I was cruising through Ebay and saw it pop up like some sort of fashion unicorn - brand new, in my size, from a reputable seller, for $40. So even though I had doubts on whether or not the dress was too long for me or would even look good on me (blah, blah, blah), I clickedty-clicked my way through that purchase as the third person to even look at that posting.

And it actually fits. And though I think I need to wear a cardi over it (need to work out the ole shoulders and arms, people), I really like the dress. I actually swished and twirled my way from room to room for a while, thankful that BF wasn't at home to witness the flash of fashion madness.

16 May 2010

Hi Ladies! I hope everyone is in the middle of a lovely weekend! I'm finally home with the fam and had a great Saturday afternoon hopscotching around Long Island with my big sis and her fam. We visited some of my favorite stores (oh Century 21, how I've missed you) and then spent a lovely early evening family dinner at home. Sorry for the lack of pics but I've been busy entertaining my tiny "terror" nephew (T, you know I really love you - even if you can't read yet).

First, I did purchase these lovely gorgeous ballet flats yesterday - which was love at first sight for me and fit like a dream ... but now I have a fashion question for you ladies: What the heck do you wear with white shoes?

I've honestly never had a pair before (OK, but 5th-grade Keds and 6th-grade Adidas shelltops don't count) - could you gals help with some recommendations?

I do kind of fear I will accidentally destroy these lovelies upon my first wearing.

And here was my totally-for-comfort morning flight outfit (I took this quickly before I flitted off):

And lastly, call me weird if you like, but my sis is taking me out for a girls' night out sometime this coming week and I pre-tried on an outfit before I left (I'm honestly more of a beer bar gal, so I want to be prepared). I wish I had some hip booties or something to bring more edge to this outfit, but this is what I ended up with:

14 May 2010

Like the rest of you ladies, I have a closet full of clothes that doesn't get enough attention. Yet it doesn't keep me from continually adding to my collection. And I'm really no good with the whole Stacy and Clinton school of managing my wardrobe, meaning getting rid of things you haven't worn in like a year or the concept of "one piece in, one piece out."

I could probably be better at shopping my closet if I was a dream organizer with an enviable wardrobe like Jan (I bow down to your close organization skills) or had the adeptness to play mental Tetris with her pieces like Roxy, but I'm not that talented. I try to be organized, but always find myself "rediscovering" unloved pieces in my dresser or closet, which means I don't know my own wardrobe as well as I should (now if that's not a sign I need to cut back on shopping, ha ha ... but that's a topic we could all probably discuss for days and thus should be saved for another time).

And what have I been doing to help my attention-starved wardrobe? Not a whole lot, especially since there are a few pieces that I find myself drawn too time and time again - because they're versatile and easy. I know how they fit and will look and I know I won't have to fiddle faddle with it all day or work at making it work.

So sorry if you ladies are getting worn out of seeing the Infinity belt or my newest go-to, these Reaction sandals (why in the world did I not have black sandals until now?!) but they work for me and I loves them.

Do you gals have a favorite accessory or piece of clothing that you find yourself putting on time and time again?

When I first saw this top, it reminded me of the Banderole Top from Anthro,

13 May 2010

And I'm especially super-duper excited about this one coming up because it means I get to go home and see the parents and my big sis and her family! Technically I'll still be working, but I haven't been home since the holidays and it'll be great to see everyone - and the City! Oh the distractions ...

I did some more psuedo-pattern mixing today (because aren't stripes almost like a solid nowadays?) and felt cheery all day, despite the heat and having to put on jeans and sneaks for part of the day for some work-related haulage. For me, I think red is becoming the new blue.

Here's the long-asked question - do the colors you wear affect your mood, or does your mood affect the colors you wear? Or is that pretty much the same question?

12 May 2010

I took a cue today from Amy, with her mad layering skills (see here and here) and decided on a first for me - a dress over a skirt. I'm not 100% this outfit works, but I am feeling IT - maybe it's the popped collar (that's just how I roll) or the flippy skirt, which is like a new puchase for me because it has languished unworn in my closet until I finally got it shortened recently.

And if you didn't already know, the blog most of us affectionally call "the mothership" recently celebrated its 2nd birthday. And to honor the lovely Alexis, J. Crew is offering a special one-day birthday deal for Alexis and her loyal followers - 15% off and free shipping with no minimum. For more info, go to J. Crew Aficionada.

Thanks, Alexis! And thanks, J. Crew, even though this ultimately means you win again, as I joined in on the melee and got some stuff I really didn't need.